Underframe for cars.



No. 873,806. PATENTED DEC. 1?, 1907.

G 3. SHALLENBERGER. UNDERFRAME FOR CARS. APPLIGATION FILED FEB.15. 1907.

2 8HEETS-SHBHT 1.

nvwlsw'. Charms & Shallanbwgar No. 873,800. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

G. S. SHALLENBBRGER. UNDERPRAME F011 CARS. I

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.15.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED srarns PATENT 0FF1 L% CHARLES s. SHALLENBERGER, or sr. LOUIaMISsoURLf UNDERFRAME FOB CARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. SHALLEN- BERGER, acitizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Underframes for Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved'underframe; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the end portion of a modified form of underframing; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the end portion of the frame shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the underframei shown in Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of the needle beam.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in underframes for cars, the object being to construct an underframe which may be employed in connection with existing forms of Wooden box cars. Many railroads at the present time have adopted steel underframes .as standard in the major part of their rolling stock, and where steel under frames areemployed in certain types of cars, such as hopper bottom and gondola, it is desirable to use steel floor sheets and side walls, as this material readily lends itself to the new requirements. In box car construction, however, a steel under frame is practically a separate entity in that it affords a support for the entire load, whereas in gondola and hopper car constructions the side walls are frequently relied upon to carry the major part of the load. Where steel under frames are used in box cars according to the new requirements it is possible to employ trussed frames consisting of posts, diagonals and side plates made up of commercially rolled members which are connected to the underframe. This makes a very strong and desirable construction. There are, however, many box cars in use today which, on account of the high priceand dearth of the proper timber, are being abandoned because it is almost impossible to obtain the wooden sills necessary for repairs.

One of the principal objects of my invention, therefore, is to provide an underframe which can be used in box car construction, said underframe possessing the requisite Specification of Letters Patent.

, eatentan fi'v,1907. Applicationfiledfebruarywl1907. Serial No. 367.696.." I

strength to support the load, and being capable of being placed under existing cars. As the principal function of, a steel underframe, where a wooden box car superstructure is used, is to support the load, it will be obvious that old box cars can be placed on my underframe and connected thereto,-and in this manner the life of the superstructure will be greatly extended; Where the existing forms of box carsare provided with the wooden longitudinal sills, these sills can be appropriately out out so as to keep the center of gravity low, and the entire superstructure can be fitted on the underframe and connected thereto by suitable fastening devices. Of course, in such new relation the truss rods, needle beams, and other reinforcing devices wouldbe eliminated as they would not be necessary where my improved underframe is arranged under the car. 7

For the sake of cheapness in manufacture,

simplicity and enabling the underframe to be quickly repaired, I prefer to construct my improved underframe essentially of two end castings which comprehend the bolster,

draft sill, diagonal, and short side sill ele-' ments, the entire casting being what is known as a skeleton casting, that is, the above-mentioned parts are connected to' gether at their ends. These end castings,

are provided with inwardly projecting members to which are riveted commercially rolled channels forming the connecting members. These channels may be trussed if desired. The'end sill may be integral" with the end casting as shown in Fig. 1, or

separate, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, the casting constituting the end portion of the underframe consists of an end member I in the form of an end sill, side members 2 in the form of side sills, draft members 3 in the form of draft sills, diagonals a in the form of braces, and transversely arranged member 5 in the form of a bolster. These members are all formed integral with each other and are cor'nposed of web and flanged portions suitably reinforced by strengthening webs of brackets at points where such are necessary or desirable. v i

The end sill may be provided with usual push pole pockets and may alsohave arf'extension in the nature of a bufier block if desired. The draft members are preferably recessed to form abutmentslfor the-draft rigging. The bolster membermay have'int'e sills 6' of the underframing,

gral side bearings and an opening for the king pin. 'The'draft and side sill members extendinwardly beyond the bolster, to

which extensions are secured longitudinal these sills being preferably in the form of commercially rolled members in the'form of channels, angles, I-beams or other shapes. These longitudinal sill members,- ho'wev er, may be of pressed metal or built up, as is'well known in this art. At approximately the center of the underframe is a transverse tie member 6 constituting a transom or cross bearer which may f lie in the horizontal plane of the sill members of the underframe, as shown in Fig. 1, or said cross bearer may be in the form of a needle beam lying under the longitudinal sills of the underframe, as shown at 6 in Fig. 1

If desired, truss rods 7 pivotally connected to the end. castings may be employed vto strengthen the underframe, said truss rod cooperating withking or queen posts arranged under the longitudinal sills of the car or con- 'nected to the cross bearers in a well known manner. w

. 'W'hileI have shown castings constituting the end-portions of the end frame as being integral, it is obvious that the samecan'be made up of two or more parts appropriately connected together.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modified form of casting in which the end sill 1 is removable, thus enabling said. end sill to be made of pressed commercially rolled or other material. In Fig. 2 I have also omitteck the rolled longitudinal side sills and have provided the" draft sills with abutments 6 near their ends which cooperate with the end sill of the car.

" members ofthe underframe.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to reducev the number of parts entering into the construction of the metal underframe for railway rolling stock. By making the end portions of the underframing of castings it is obvious that the two castings, one at'each end of the car, and the four sill members shown in Fig. 1, constitute the main In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a wooden superstructure, that is, one having the usual ior the purpose of transmitting buffing and pulling stresses. Where the metal floor sheets and side walls are used in comunction with my improved underfrarping 1t 1s ObVl- 1. An underframe for cars in the form of a trussed structure, the same comprising longitudinal sills which form the compression members of the truss, castings conne'ctedto the ends of said longitudinal sills, the tension members of the truss being connected to said castings, body bolster formed integral with short 1ongitudinal sills, and an end sill connecting said short sills; substantially as described.

2. An underframe for. cars comprising 1ongitudinal sills which form the compression members of a truss, and castin s connected to the ends" of said longitudinal s' s, the tension members of said truss being connected to said castings, each of said castings consisting of a body bolster, endsill and short longitudinal sills; substantially as described. 3. An underframing for cars comprising end portions in theform of castings, an intermediate portion in the form of a longitu dinal sill or sills connected to said end portions, and truss rods also connected to said end portions and cooperating with the longi-- tudinal sills at a point or points intermediate the end portions; substantially.asdescribed.

4. An undertraming for cars, the same comprising end portions in the form of castings, each of said castings consisting of a bolster integrally connected to short lon itudinal sills, an end sill connected to said s ort sills, and an intermediate portion in the form of truss rods and longitudinal sills connected to said end portions; substantially as described. I r 1 5. An underframing for cars, the same comprising end portions in the form of skeleton castings, each of said castings consisting -of a bolster integrally connected to short longitudinal sills, an end sill connected, to said each of said castings consisting of a" short sills, and a trussed beam or beams connecting said end castings together; substantially as described.

6. An 'underframe for cars comprising longitudinal sills which-form the compression members of a truss, and castings connected to the ends of said longitudinal sills, the ten sion members of said truss being connected to said castings, each of said castings consisting of a body bolster, end sill, diagonal braces and short longitudinal sills; substantially as described. I

7. An underframe for cars having longitudinal sills which constitute compression members, tension members cooperating with said longitudinal sills, and castings connect-f ed to. the ends of said longitudinal'sills,

each of said castings being in the form of a. 2'

skeleton frame and consisting of a body bol ster, short longitudinal sills and an end sill; substantially as described.

8. In an underframing for cars, an end sill member, and draft members integrally eonnected together in the form of a skeleton castin said draft members 1g provided with aoutments on their up i faces adjacent the-end sill members; .bstantially as described.

9. sAngunderframe for cars eemprising longitudinal sills having top flanges which constitute compression members, castings connected to the ends of said longitudinal sills,

and tension members which cooperate with said compression members connected to said 15 castings, each of said castings being in the form of a skeleton frame and consisting of a body bolster, short longitudinal sills and an end sill; substantiallyas described. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 26 signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses, this eleventh day of February 1907. V

' CHARLES S. SHALLENBERGER. \Vitnesses F. R. CORNWALL, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

